I loved both of the previous books in Mimi Matthews’s Somerset Stories series, so I was very happy when I received an ARC of her newest addition to the series. This story has everything her fans love and expect from her stories - gentle, sweet romance, a bit of mystery, and loveable characters. Even though her stories are closed-door and with very low level of steam (if any), I don’t mind it in the least, because they are always engaging and interesting enough.

In this story, I loved that we got to see both of the couples from previous books - now as the parents. It’s always bittersweet for me to read about the couple from author’s previous books when a lot of time has passed - I guess it reminds me of our mortality, and that years go by quickly. But it’s also nice to get to know about what their life together looked like, and how their children are doing. It’s another thing i loved in this story - the sense of family and love and unity we get from both families. It also made me excited and hopefully all the children will get their stories told in the future! (I was even happier when, at the end of the book, I was informed that there’s at least one other book planned in foreseeable future!)

This story encircled nicely the events from the first book, and I’m hopeful the next one is going to do the same for the second book. Charles and Kate were lovely both individually, and as a couple, even though I would’ve loved if we’d gotten a bit more of the two of them together by the end. It did feel a bit rushed, the ending, and I was left hoping for at least one more scene of just two of them alone.

I adore Mimi Matthews' books and this was no exception.
The story was lovely & I enjoyed the main characters, their families and the plot, generally. I'd read the previous 2 books in this loosely-linked series, but it had been some time, so got the big connections but may have missed some of the importance of various names/people mentioned.
I understand the intent to make the woman the strong lead in the romance - but it's almost TOO persistently obviously done ("She may not be steering him in the dance, but it was she who was plotting the course of their journey in every other respect." p144) Yes, I get it. I do like that the woman is taking charge (Typically, a great characteristic in Matthews' heroines), but I felt like I was getting hit over the head with it a bit much here - even if the book is flipping convention & having some assertive, independent female characters in historic romance (I am ALL FOR competent, intelligent heroines!!), I think an element of historic romance that I enjoy is the subtlety, the nuance, the small unspoken actions that kind of make this sub genre -- and didn't really get that quite as much here. It's a lovely story, but the main characters' actions are written out in a bigger, bolder way than usual.
That said, I do love the scene where Kate's about to knee that snake Catmull in the balls (wish she'd gotten to do it!!) and Charles comes in playing his role perfectly with the story she'd set up....

4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing & Perfectly Proper Press for this eARC! All thoughts/opinions are my own.

This book was absolutely lovely. Mimi Matthews has a way of drawing you into the story as soon as you start the first chapter and that was absolutely the case with "Return to Satterthwaite Court." The romance was so tender and swoony with signature Mimi tropes <3

I loved how Katherine saw Charles and even though he was gruff and rude (*sighs*), she was like "I want that one". Charles was a dark daddy and bloody frustrated with his attraction to Katherine, so that was chef's kiss.

Where this book lost a star was its romantic pacing. In the "Belles of London" series, I find the romance to be front and centre and so the pacing in those books is perfection. In this one, it was like "ok where are they in the relationship because it's not clear". So yeah, just the development of the romance was a bit confusing, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless.

Now, the excerpt for "Appointment in Bath" is ICONIC. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Character names: Ivo and Meg. LIKE. He gives such Prince Char (Ella Enchanted) vibes and the last line of the excerpt is something like "Meg was in desperate need of a friend" and AHHHHH. I can't wait for them!

A fun read and I enjoyed receiving a copy, as I always enjoy anything Mathew’s writes.

Our spunky main heroine, Kate, was the initial pursuer rather than the hero Charles, which was a fresh twist on the mold. Their relationship wasn’t entirely convincing, it was a little too much telling, not enough showing. This story was at best, entertaining and a pleasant temporary escape if you have an afternoon free, but I regret to say this read didn’t have the usual punch Matthew’s books have and will remain in my memory rather….forgettable.

I will of course continue to read Matthew’s future writings and am interested in her next story, which I believe she has set up with the side characters, James and Hannah.

Review posted to Goodreads on March, 13, 2023. Thank you for the ARC!

I have been anxiously awaiting this story since Mimi announced it. RTSC is the story of Charles Heywood, son of Arthur and Philly (The Work of Art) and Kate, daughter of Maggie and St Clare (Gentleman Jim). The first two books in the Somerset series were exemplary historical romances. I fell in love with the main characters and was completely drawn by both storylines. I knew that the children of these amazing characters would produce an equally engrossing and engaging story of their own.

Kate is a strong, confident woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. When she encounters Charles on the street, she is instantly intrigued. Despite Charles’s brusque and stern manner her interest is piqued and she is determined to unravel the mystery of this man.

Charles is much like his father in that he is very serious, seemingly unapproachable, and more than a little grump-ish. But he also inherits his mother’s love for animals and her compassionate heart, even if he doesn’t show the last openly. He has returned home from years abroad seeking a quiet life and home to settle down in. When it becomes clear that he is being pursued by Kate, Charles isn’t the least bit happy. He feels she only sees him as a challenge and will lose interest quickly.

The family dynamics with these two families is everything I hoped for; they were so very different in demeanor and deportment, yet the same in their unfettered love, fierce protectiveness, and deep adoration. Charles and Kate compliment each other perfectly and they are definitely meant to be together! Grumpy/sunshine, quiet/outspoken, reserved/uninhibited.

I only wish that there were more romantic encounters between the two. Compared to her other works, I felt this one was much lighter in the romance dept, lacking the intensity I normally experience. All in all it was still a wonderful historical fiction, with some romance and some mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

#mimimatthews #historicalfiction #historicalromance #cleanromance #victorianromance #netgalley #arc

"Return to Satterthwaite Court" is a romance set in 1843 in England. Though the 3rd in a series, it can be read as a stand alone. I didn't really care for the characters and didn't really feel convinced they were a good match (or even a love match).

Katherine's intrigued by Charles mainly because he's not interested in her. He's a challenge. He's also "heroic" because he rescued a mongrel from the London streets. (I have a hard time seeing that as heroic, though it is compassionate.) She pushed her way, unasked, into his life. She even took a four hour round trip for an unannounced visit to him without being formally introduced first and with no idea if he was literally or socially "at home" for the visit. She sneaked away to do unchaperoned things with him--it's only a scandal if they're caught, right? And he has a mystery to solve, so she tried to lead the investigation so she could have some adventure in her life.

Charles was used to being in command and having people obey him. Katherine most defiantly didn't and wanted to be the one to lead. He oddly jumped to bad conclusions about her because two letters with different handwriting came at the same time, one from her and another with a "threatening" letter (and I still don't see how it was threatening). He started to tolerate her behavior because she's kind to his shy sister. At the end, he's suddenly determined to marry her.

Katherine just didn't seem realistic for the time period. The "romance" seemed more based on looks and the challenge of it than a lasting match in personality and interests. It's just not my type of story. There was no sex. There were a few uses of bad language.

Mimi Matthews' two Regency novels (The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim) are bound together with a common thread, resulting in "Return to Satterthwaite Manor". The latter is now the third installment of an enthralling series, with the promise of more to come.

The children of the protagonists of the previous two books are featured here. Headstrong and outgoing Lady Katherine Beresford and serious Charles Heywood accidentally, yet humorously meet, and the chase is on (by her). What follows is an engaging story of two seemingly incompatible people finding lasting happiness. Joining them on this journey is a cast of well-drawn secondary characters. Several were featured prominently in the last two books.

Matthews' prose is beautiful. Finely edited, this book is clean. As always, she has a deft hand with historical details. Her characters leap off the page. Although this is a stand-alone novel, reading the first two stories gives some illuminating background knowledge, and may help increase a reader's understanding. I love Mimi Matthews' writing, and I greatly look forward to the next installment. There are several characters who deserve their own tales.

Thanks to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for an ARC of this entertaining work.

I've read all of Mimi Matthews books and love them all. This one didn't disappoint.

We follow Charles and Kate, both children from different couples we met in other books. I really loved that touch. It could very much be a standalone book but knowing the background stories for the two families was such a treat.

I loved both main characters, as well as the side character. Mimi Matthews does characters so well!

My own slight niggle is that it felt a little insta-love and I would have liked to see the progression of the relationship a bit more and had a few more special connection moments.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the free eARC of this book.

Dizzying delights!

The opening scene of Lieutenant Charles Heywood newly off his ship at the London docks chasing a mongrel dog to see it doesn’t come to harm, only to try to disentangle it from around a lady’s skirts is a hoot. As is when he proclaims it to be a valuable dog, “A rare breed. One of only of his kind.” With a nod to Georgette Heyer’s Frederica, Matthews latest novel is off to a fine start and the pace never stops.
We have mystery, an historical happening that’s influencing today’s participants, a feisty yet charming heiress, and a villain who’s sleazed his way into society with all the finesse of a snake charmer.
I was caught off guard by the closing scenes when his mother and sister turned out to be as nasty as Mr. Elias Catmull.
Kate, daughter of the Earl of Allendale, can’t help but fall headlong into scrapes. She’s passionate and intelligent. She’s had to weather three brothers, which means fighting for what she wants, and challenging everyone who wants to hedge her in—even though she’s mortified after she’s done so.
Of course she fixed her attention on Charles, and he? Well it takes a while for him to truly appreciate Kate. The there’s anothing thing. He’s resigned his commission and the reason for doing so hangs heavily.
Another great Sommerset tale from Matthews with more to come from this corner of England! Yes!!

A Victory Editing ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

I have loved every Mimi Matthews book. This is no exception.

I loved that she chased him, and he was more careful, more reserved.

If you like regency romance, great chemistry, a little mystery, and the first two books—read this right now!

#ReturntoSatterthwaiteCourt is the charming sequel to two of Mimi Matthews earlier novels in her Somerset series. It cleverly brings together Charles Heywood, the son of Arthur and Phyllida Heywood from The Work of Art ; and Lady Katherine Beresford, the daughter of Margaret and John Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, from Gentleman Jim. Although there is a mystery involved in the story, it really does not become significant until about 75% in the book.

The primary focus is on the romance of Charles and Kate. Charles has recently returned from England after years in the Royal Navy, a step that he took despite his family’s strenuous objections. Disillusioned and restless after resigning his commission, he is trying to find his way now that he is back and plans to find a home and a wife. He and Kate run into each other in London and Kate is so impressed with his rescue of a stray dog that she is determined to further their acquaintance. In fact, despite the social norms of the time, Kate is the one pursuing Charles for most of the book.

The mystery concerns the ownership of Satterthwaite Court, Phyllida’s grandfather’s estate where she grew up and that became her uncle’s upon her grandfather’s death due to an entail.

Although more sedately paced than many of her other novels, this is a sweet story with, as always in Ms. Matthew's books, wonderful characters. It can be read as a standalone but will be especially enjoyable for readers of The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim since it provides an update on the Heywood and Beresford families. Another delightful work from Mimi Matthews!

Thanks to #NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for the ARC!

I couldn't imagine that I'll be facing romance in a mix of a bit cozy mystery in the middle. It's very much a lovely adventurous romance and the fact that the time background setting is in the Victorian Era makes it more exhilarating.

The plot and the story was awesome. It was very much refreshing since considering the background setting, we have the fmc pursuing the mmc. We have a strong and fearless female main character, in Victorian Era, that not only pursued the gentleman but also brazenly admit that she was the on who chose him. If that's not something that you never see in a historical romance, I'm not sure what is. The flow was pleasant too, nothing was dragging or too fast and I enjoyed this book immensely.

The characters.. perfection. Pure perfection. Flawless too. God, Kate, Lady Katherine Beresford is my role model. Seriously, she was just purely amazing and fantastic, I just admit that I'm in love with her. I just never doubt Mimi's character development, she has the most flawless character development ever in every books that I read. Lieutenant Charles Heywood was also perfect, I really like how he perfectly matched with Kate, and my God he was just this handsomely confident man and hot. He was just hot. I won't spoil any of them in this review, but once this book released you need to pick this up!

I love to see the crumbs of Arthur Philly and John Maggie. The fact that it's both of their son and daughter was enough to make me squeal when I first started reading this book.

Do you want know how I felt and what was my state while I was reading this? I was very much hooked, thrilled, and excited throughout reading this. I never did feel bored, not even a second this book felt tedious or flat. I'm just so thrilled and excited and happy. And I was basically sitting on the edge of my sit when I read this book due to how excited I was.

I'd read and enjoyed "The Work of Art" so I expected to like "Return to Satterthwaite Court" just as much. In reality, I loved it even more!

Lieutenant Charles Heywood, the son of Philly and Arthur (from "The Work of Art"), is a battle-weary soldier who is ready to leave his career in the past and settle down in England. By pure luck, he briefly meets Lady Katherine Beresford (daughter of the protagonists of "Gentleman Jim") in London. As both of their family homes are in the West Country, Kate convinces her brother to pay a visit to Charles, and both soon become entangled in a mystery that concerns Charles' mother. As their friendship deepens, Kate decides to openly pursue Charles.
I found her behaviour very forward (for the time period), but she actually does nothing more than male suitor would in normal circumstances! It was therefore really refreshing to see this new take on courtship, this reverse dynamic, and it was especially heartwarming to see that Charles was not intimidated by such forward behaviour. Brownie points for the originality of the romance!

There was a little less action and mystery in the book than I first expected reading the summary, and I found the resolution of it a little quick, but overall, I found the plot to be solid. I appreciated that the romance took such a important part of the book because the characters had a great chemistry.

The secondary characters —the families — were very well developed and we easily get attached to them. After loving this book so much, I already bought and devoured "Gentleman Jim" (5 stars!) to get to know Kate's parents. Now, I cannot wait to read the following book of the Somerset Stories series about Charles and Kate's respective siblings!

*I received a eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

Thank you, Perfectly Proper Press and Netgalley, for the free copy of the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Heartwarming and oh, so wonderful! This ARC couldn't come at a more opportune time. I've been in a reading slump where I've been unable to finish the books (nor enjoy them all that much, to be honest). This rarely happens to me. Nothing held my interest, and voila, this book broke the spell.

Tropes:
a) Heroine in pursuit
b) Naval hero
c) Sunshine heroine/Grumpy hero
d) Victorian era

This book features the children from the main couple in both 'Gentleman Jim' (John & Margaret) and 'The Work of Art' (Arthur and Philly). If you have yet to read these excellent books, I implore you to do so before reading this one. You will definitely appreciate Charles and Kate all the more.

I love both Charles and Kate. Charles is the 'grump' of the pair. He is sombre and staid (he is the son of Capt. Arthur Heyworth, after all). Still, he is compassionate, gentle and protective towards those under his care (Philly's influence, most definitely). He is restless and has a taste for adventure, influencing him to sign up with the Navy. He is also idealistic, making it hard for him to stay with the Navy.

Kate is the sunshine of the pair. She is independent, free-spirited and willful (she's a Beresford). You couldn't help but admire her daringness. She goes after what she wants, and what she wants is Charles. She is a strong heroine, but Ms Matthews also shows us Kate's vulnerability, especially regarding Charles. I loved that Ms Matthews did a lot of showing, not telling, in this book. It was wonderful to watch their relationship and romance unfold.

It's not only the parents who made an appearance. You also get to see Charles's sister, Hannah. Kate has three older brothers; James, Ivo and Jack. It's interesting to see how their parents influence each child's personality. The Beresfords are rambunctious; meanwhile, the Heyworths are more sedate. It's just solid characterisations all around.

This book has very few conflicts, but make no mistake, it is never dull. It is a character-driven story. There's a villain for those who want a little bit of action.

One of Ms Matthews's strengths is her ability to transport the readers back to when things were much simpler. I couldn't detect any anachronism (which is a major pet peeve of mine). This book is well-researched and historically rich. On another note, I adore how Ms Matthews conveyed all the feels while the characters are chaste. There's an art to it, and the author has fine-tuned it.

This book was a pleasure from start to finish. It left me with a smile and a warm fuzzy feeling inside my chest. If that is not a mark of a great book written by a talented author, I don't know what is. Well done, Ms Matthews! I am eager and keen to see what else you can come up with as your books keep getting better and better. Ivo and Meg's story is next. I'm hoping James and Hannah will be getting their own book. Fingers-crossed!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was very much in the vein of 'Work of Art' to which it is a sequel, but Charles and Kate were just not as appealing to me as Arthur and Philly. This was a mix of a slight mystery with a courtship notable only in that it was Kate who pursued Charles and not the other way round.

I found this pleasant but insubstantial.

Return to Satterthwaite Court was a swoony romance full of twists and turns! I thoroughly enjoyed the independent and loveable Lady Katherine and her family. Charles was an enigma, a young man grown from his lust for adventure to the hope for settling down and finding someone to love -- just to come home to find more adventure!

From bitey dogs to ballrooms and gardens, this was a very enjoyable and refreshing book. Mimi Matthews has once again wrote a fantastic book you just can't put down!

Be sure to check my profile for a link to my favorite squeaky clean romances, good reads link, and more!

#bookstagram #regencyreads #closeddoorromance #bookreview #mimimatthews #cleanromance

I was so excited to read this “next-generation” story after just finishing The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim. I love seeing the children of Philly and Arthur and Nick and Margaret fall in love and conquer their own set of hurdles in their quest for a happily-ever-after. What a perfect reflection of their parents these stubborn/honorable/adventurous/romantic youngsters are! And there’s almost nothing more satisfying than a villain who gets his comeuppance, as Mimi Matthews demonstrates in most all her books . I was grateful to get an early peek at this novel via Net Halley, and was not required to post a review.

This was a fun story. The girl who knows what she wants and goes after it. I wasn't sure I would like it as I read but it grew on me. Not my favorite Mathews but a good one. I wanted more from the parents. I think I wanted more depth in the back story. It all ended so quickly and I think I wanted that weasel to get more crap then he did. I just wanted more and now that I think about it, that is not a bad thing. To want to read more of the author and more of the story would actually be what I aimed for as an author so maybe Mimi is on to something here:}
Anyway, this is a proper romance with no religion and some sweet kisses. Written from his and her points of view.

It takes some really masterful plotting to weave the characters from two books together while also incorporating a time jump. Mimi Matthews does it with incredibly satisfying results in this third installment of her Somerset Stories series, Return to Satterthwaithe Court. Of course, one could read this as a standalone and be swept away by the story of Katherine Beresford and Charles Heywood, but anyone who knows the characters from the first two books will be delightfully entertained by seeing many beloved characters again as the second generation takes on the main roles. Many will be happy to see dogs, cats, and horses woven into the story, as you'd expect from Mimi Matthews.

The book starts with a delightful scene in which Charles Heywood chases a stray dog that is apt to be hurt in traffic and meets Lady Katherine Beresford when the dog nips her. Charles' parents are from book 1 in the series and his mother's dogs feature prominently in that story, so it's no surprise that Charles is an animal lover. Katherine is the daughter of the spirited (and sometimes outrageous) couple from the second book and she's as strong willed and assertive as they were. As their relationship develops, we get to meet all the Heywood and Beresford siblings, which sets the stage for more books in the series (the question lurking in my mind is whether Ivo or James are next). Along with the romantic plot, there's a conflict around the property where Charles' mother grew up. It turns out that there is another thread connecting the families and it relates to that property, Satterthwaite Court. We also get some interesting insight into British imperialism though Charles' recollections of being in the Navy.

This was a completely joy to read and I'm certain I'll be revisiting it time and again in the future. All of Mimi Matthews' books are like comfort food to me, but this one is especially wonderful because of how it brought the characters together.

Will a reverse courtship scares the man who makes her heart beat faster …

What a pleasure it is to plunge into a Mimi Matthews novel, even more, when this story is about the children from two of my favorite reads by her.
I discovered her talent with words when I first read The Work of Art, so what is better for a reader than to witness the children of beloved couples finding their own happily ever after too?

Here we have Grumpy meets Sunshine with Charles a much-reserved fellow, a man of few words, and Katherine, all in exuberance, a very voluble lady.
And while Charles acts much more in restraint, they both share a love for animals and adventures.
Grumpy meets Sunshine

What a quirky meet-cute they have, one that determines in some way their future, as Kate sees through the invisible hints she caught that Charles is the man for her.
She is so enthralled by the soldier who went to such an extent for a mere stray dog, she sets her heart and cap on the naval officer who is more than his quietness and frowns.
Charles shows greater restraint, focusing on the whys and wherefores before deciding to listen to his heart.

«Nothing worth having is easy,” she said. “Indeed, the strongest bonds in life are forged by fire.»

How wonderful it is to go back to Somerset to visit again old friends and make new ones, as the outlines of future romances are drawn all the while the first one unfolds in front of us between the reckless resolute lady and her brooding would-be beau if he lets her have her way.
A sweet lively swoon-worthy addition to this series.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the author and the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.